Driver in Plympton tanker crash was on drugs, police say

Saturday

Mar 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 29, 2008 at 7:39 PM

A propane truck driver is accused of driving under the influence of drugs after crashing her truck into a utility pole Saturday morning and rolling over on Route 106 in Plympton. The crash spilled propane and forced the evacuation of more than a dozen area homes. Route 106 in Plympton was closed all day.

Kyle Alspach

A propane truck driver is accused of driving under the influence of drugs after crashing her truck into a utility pole and rolling over on Route 106.

The crash, at about 8:11 a.m. Saturday, spilled propane and forced the evacuation of more than a dozen area homes. Route 106 in Plympton was closed throughout the day Saturday.

The driver, Daycee Ryder of Freetown, drove off the right shoulder on County Road near the intersection with Lake Street, according to Plympton police.

The vehicle struck a stone wall and a utility pole before rolling onto its roof, police said in a statement.

Moments before the crash, Middleboro and Halifax police received several calls saying the tanker was operating erratically along routes 105 and 106, the statement said.

Ryder, 39, was cited for operating under the influence of drugs, failure to stay in marked lanes and operating as to endanger.

Officer Paul Joudrey said he could not elaborate on the reason for the charges.

Ryder sustained minor injuries and was transported to Jordan Hospital in Plymouth. She was listed in fair condition early Saturday night.

She had been driving a truck owned by EnergyUSA Propane of Taunton. Representatives of the company weren’t available for comment Saturday, according to a staff member.

A line from the truck leaked an unspecified amount of propane after the crash, according to the police statement.

About a dozen homes were evacuated, and residents within a 1-mile radius received a “reverse 911” phone message suggesting they evacuate.

Equipment to remove the remaining propane from the truck was rushed to the scene from Danvers under state police escort, police said.

The tanker was not removed until 3:50 p.m., and power lines remained in the roadway for hours after that.

Cleanup efforts continued throughout the day Saturday, and utility crews were still working to restore power to the area as of early Saturday night.

Plympton, Halifax, Carver and Kingston fire crews responded to the crash and worked to contain the spill.

The crash came one day after a tanker carrying gasoline and diesel rolled over on Interstate 91 in Chicopee, causing a massive explosion and leading to the death of the truck’s driver.